Own a Nintendo Switch? Fancy using your classic GameCube controller with it? Well, thanks to Mayflash's GameCube Adapter you can now achieve this interface dream.

The catch is that the adapter needs to be updated with new firmware (this only works on PC at the moment, you can't use a Mac to update it) and that you can only plug in a single pad - if you try plugging in more controllers into the other three ports they will all be assigned as player one.

The GameCube controller emulates a Pokken controller. That means that the D-pad and Analog Stick BOTH work as a D-pad. If a Switch game is playable with the D-pad, you can play it with a GameCube controller. BOTW is a no-go. The C-stick doesn't work as a stick, instead left and right function as the + and - buttons.

For best results, plug the adapter into the Switch dock, then turn it on. Use the GameCube controller BEFORE using any Joy-con or Switch Pro Controller. You can navigate the Switch menu with the GameCube controller just fine. After making sure the GameCube controller is responding, THEN connect any normal Switch controllers.

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Damien has over a decade of professional writing experience under his belt, as well as a repulsively hairy belly. Rumours that he turned down a role in The Hobbit to work on Nintendo Life are, to the best of our knowledge, completely and utterly unfounded.

Unfortunately it's limited in its use as it is because it's emulating the Pokken controller but it shows what we already know, that Nintendo could patch this for proper use of the Gamecube controller if they wanted.

USB support for the Switch (derp) Pro Controllers was just added in the 3.0 firmware update, so I imagine they'll be able to emulate that instead of the Pokkén controller for better results, hopefully.

I imagine in the future, Nintendo might add support for the official Gamecube Controller adapter should Smash Bros happen. If they go a step beyond and make it work with more than just Smash Bros I'd be very happy.

If they do bring Smash to the Switch, then they would have to include GC controller compatibility, and as they already have the adapter for the Wii U, it would make sense for them to just reuse that... and this basically confirms that it would work... it would just need Nintendo to add the option to the Switch as they have done with the Pokken controller.

I'm guessing the reason they haven't done it already is because the GameCube controller is far more similar to a pro controller, making it a viable alternative controller, and much cheaper than getting a pro controller or an extra set of joy-cons.

@RupeeClock It added wired support for the Switch Pro controller, but I haven't seen anything about it adding support for the Wii U Pro controller as well... I'll definitely need to try that out later to check, as that could be really handy.

@TenEighty the pro controller reminds me of an xbox one controller, because it practically is. Try holding a Switch pro controller, it's pretty comfy. My comment was an unexplained dissatisfaction of the gamecube controller's very limited functuinality with this method. If it can't work fully, what's the point?

This is another thing that I do not like about Nintendo. They have way too many different controllers, you can never get used to one, they never feel comfortable, and they seem to progressively get worse over time.

@Bengals76 At least this time they aren't a requirement. And the JoyCons/Pro Controller are functionally the same (Albeit, the odd game here or there that doesn't support the pro) so you can just choose the one you like best.

@Bengals76 I'm definitely glad they did. Personally, I think they were just being stubborn with the Wii U and used that layout to be different. It's a great layout for FPS or anything that requires constant camera control, but for everything else, I much prefer the offset sticks. So personally, I'm very glad they switch layouts. What I find a little perplexing, is why they skipped analogue triggers...

I got the 8bitdo pro controller and it is superb, with no attachements needed. I'd highly recommend it. This is a cool solution though for those who loved the GCN controller. Too bad we can't sync the Wavebird.

how come Nintendo hasn't updated the Nintendo Switch to work with the Wii U GameCube controller adapter?

hopefully they will do so before the new Super Smash Bros. game comes out. maybe Nintendo will be nice and allow us to use the GameCube controllers in Mario Kart 8 and the new Super Mario game once that is released.

I always hated the gamecube controllers, I know its not a popular opinion, but they just are weird to use for me......my switch pro controller though is almost perfect so I'll pass on this weird barely functioning fix

@Azooooz What kind of ideas are you talking about exactly? If you're talking in terms of adding things to the meta of any particular game of course it's going to be hard to convince someone you have a good idea.

@Exy In terms of the competitive scene I'd say it's generally like any other community. Followers of the scene have favorite players, characters, and the kids probably troll tournament streams and videos spouting insults at anyone/anything they don't like. Of course each smash game is a lot different from it's successor/predecessor. A lot of the "prescriptivism" probably stems from that fact. Discussion about adding characters/items/modes for future games probably doesn't happen as much as it used to. I don't know how much/if you care for the game(s) or not so it's hard to tell if that has anything to do with what you've seen from the community.